Figuring out what makes a good legislator

As I travel from my Assembly duties in Sacramento to my Assembly

duties here in Huntington Beach, I often wonder what my constituents

are thinking about the job I am doing for them. I wonder if they ever

ask themselves the important question: “What makes a good

legislator?” And if so, I wonder how I measure up? I’ve been thinking

about this question a lot and here’s what I would say if I were asked

that question.

I think a legislator must be totally committed to doing a good

job. In other words, he or she must be committed to serving the

district faithfully, honestly and even courageously. In particular,

special attention needs to focus on local issues and concerns. And

finally, the legislator must craft legislation that will help move

our state forward.

Second, I feel that a legislator must be willing to work with the

opposition party in order to get things done effectively. It doesn’t

help your constituents if you go to Sacramento simply to become a

partisan warrior. Constituents have sent you to Sacramento to get

things done. They want you to work hard, trying to solve the problems

of both your district and California. It does absolutely no good to

“poke a stick” in the eye of your political opponent. Whenever that’s

done, nothing substantive is ever accomplished. Given a choice

between a legislator bringing home the bacon to the constituents or

bringing home empty scalps, I think constituents would choose the

bacon every time. There are many legislators in Sacramento who are

anxious to reach across the aisle to their colleagues and find the

common ground required to produce good legislation. I put myself in

that category, and I’m sure it is one reason why I have been

successful in Sacramento. In my book, being flexible, open-minded and

willing to see all sides of an issue before making a decision is the

essence of being an effective legislator.

Third, I feel that a legislator needs to be a good listener, both

in dealing with colleagues in Sacramento and with constituents at

home. Listening to information presented, arguments made, and

concerns expressed is a valuable tool in reaching decisions that are

well-balanced and fair to all who may be affected by the legislation

in question.

Fourth, I feel that a legislator must be able to “access the

system.” One needs to understand how the various legislative

processes work, how relationships are established and maintained, and

how to get results without giving up principles or priorities.

Legislators must always be true to their own moral compass and sense

of ethics in doing their job.

When you try to evaluate how a legislator is doing, it’s a lot

like looking at the batting average of a major league baseball

player. In baseball, if a batter gets three hits out of every ten

at-bats, he is considered to be a good hitter. Even very good hitters

strike out or make an out most of the time. Likewise, even good

legislators see their bills killed. But the good ones keep on trying

to do the best they can to improve their legislative performance.

How do I measure up as a legislator? Well, let’s check my batting

average. In the four years that I have been in the Legislature, I

have authored 79 bills, and 32 of them have been enacted into law.

That’s a .405 batting average. In the first two years I was in the

Assembly, I had more bills signed into law than any other freshman

Republican member of the Assembly. I am proud of the fact that I have

authored legislation in areas that are important to my constituents,

especially regarding our coastal environment. Among my colleagues in

the legislature, I have one of the best reputations in Sacramento for

being able to solve problems on a bipartisan basis.

I have an open-door policy. I listen. Now, I want to hear from

you. Please contact me and let me know what makes a good legislator.

You can contact me by going to my website at

o7tomharmanassembly.comf7. Thank you for your interest. It is my

honor to represent the citizens of the 67th Assembly District in the

state Legislature.

* TOM HARMAN is Huntington Beach’s representative in the state

Assembly. His 67th Assembly District also includes Seal Beach,

Cypress, La Palma, Los Alamitos and portions of Anaheim, Garden

Grove, Stanton and Westminster. To contribute to “Sounding Off,”

e-mail us at [email protected] or fax us at (714)

966-4667.